WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) sent a letter today to the Farm Bill Conference Committee leaders applauding their efforts to establish a formal conference committee on the 2013 Farm Bill and encouraging them to negotiate and finalize a conference report for the Farm Bill before the end of the year.

SCFBA commended the House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders on their work creating bills that build on the strategic funding and policy direction the Alliance has pursued since the 2008 Farm Bill. SCFBA agreed that both of the Farm Bills that were passed over the summer will enhance the competitive position of specialty crop growers across the country.

The Alliance also highlighted critical priorities that were included in both bills and recommended they be included in the final conference report. These priorities included initiatives and programs related to market access and expansion, production research, combating invasive pests and diseases, promotional tools and infrastructure investment, and increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts.

With the use of drones, tractor-mounted sensors and software, Raptor Maps has created an affordable system for growers that allows them to precisely map, analyze and measure the quality of crops at critical times during the growing season.

Dozens of groups, organizations and decision makers are opposing breaching of the lower Snake River dams and are urging that the Trump administration directly intervene to put an end to discussions about breaching them.